Velocity Center hosts State Department fellows and seeks international 'soft‑landing' designation
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Summary
Velocity Center director Paula McPherson said the Sterling Heights business incubator is hosting two Global Ties Detroit fellows sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Legacy International, is pursuing an International Soft Landings designation, and has an accelerator client appearing on Shark Tank.
Velocity, Sterling Heights’ business incubator, is hosting two fellows through a Global Ties Detroit program run with Legacy International and sponsored by the U.S. State Department, Director Paula McPherson told council.
The fellows—Mullah Hassan (Morocco) and Mohammed Aksana (Algeria)—are working with Velocity on an “international landing zone” project and small‑business programming designed to help participants adapt practices to their home markets. Hassan and Aksana addressed the council and said they plan to apply their learning to entrepreneurship ecosystems in North Africa and elsewhere.
McPherson said Velocity is completing a designation process with the International Business Incubation Association for an International Soft Landings landing‑zone recognition. She said the designation will provide international marketing and expanded funding opportunities.
McPherson also told council that an accelerator client, Fundraiser Blankets, will appear on Shark Tank and that Velocity has a new international project in development. She credited the city’s economic development advisor, Luke Bonner, and thanked the council for support.
The remarks were a briefing; no council action was required.
